Dothan Tigers breeze past Northview

Earlier this week, Dothan senior quarterback Jay LeGrand said he wanted to do something about the Tigers’ four-game losing streak to rival Northview.

LeGrand and his Tiger teammates certainly did do something — emphatically, in fact.

Taking control from the onset, LeGrand and Dothan totally dominated the Cougars Friday at Rip Hews Stadium, pounding their city rivals 47-7.

The 47 points were the most scored by any team, and the 40-point margin was the largest in the 32 meetings between the programs.

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“It was a big win,” Dothan head coach Kelvis White said. “We challenged our seniors. They had never beaten Northview before. They took it personal, and they came out and played ball.”

White added, “They told me about the city trophy, but I have never seen it. I guess I get to see it now.”

In winning, Dothan kept its postseason hopes alive. The Tigers, along with Enterprise and Opelika, ended region play at 4-3 for the final two spots and will have to go to tiebreakers, which won’t be decided until after next week’s play.

Tiger players, as expected, were ecstatic at finally beating Northview.

“It feels good,” senior linebacker-running back McKinley Greer said. “It feels like a weight has been lifted off our shoulder.”

“It is emotional,” said LeGrand.  “This crowd cheered the whole game and after the game. It is just emotional. It is the biggest win we have had this year.”

The victory also secured a winning season for Dothan (6-3) for the first time since 2001.

“It means a lot (to have a winning season),” LeGrand said. “We have turned the corner. We are hoping next year and the years to come will be even better. Coach White is doing a heck of a job, and I believe he will keep it going. It feels great to be a part of it.”

Dothan seized a 13-0 lead six minutes into the game, extended it to 19-0 before the quarter then 26-0 at halftime. The Tigers were never seriously threatened after that.

“First of all, I want to congratulate coach White and his staff and team on a game well-played,” said Northview head coach Wayne White, whose team fell to 3-6. “I feel like we got outcoached and outplayed.

“It started off bad at the beginning, and it just didn’t get any better after that.”

The stats, like the score, reflected Dothan’s dominance. The Tigers earned 20 first downs and 405 total yards, 216 on the ground and 189 through the air, while holding Northview to seven first downs and 143 total yards, 105 coming on the ground and just 38 passing.

Dothan also converted 8 of 10 third down conversions and converted on fourth down after one of the misfires.

“It was a total team effort,” Dothan’s White said.

The game was penalty-plagued for both teams as 247 yards in penalties were assessed off 23 flags — and at least four penalties in the game were wiped out or declined. Northview had the worst part of it, being assessed 157 yards on 14 penalties, most of them personal fouls or holding.

“I am disappointed that we had so many penalties,” Northview’s White said. “I told the kids coming in that I wanted us to show our class, and we didn’t do that. I want to apologize to everyone that is with Northview. That is not what we will be about. It cost us.”

There were plenty of stars for Dothan, but none may have been bigger than LeGrand. The Tiger quarterback was 13-of-18 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns.

He also added two quarterback sneaks for scores and rushed for 23 yards on just three carries.

“He was great,” said Kelvis White. “He is our leader. The last two weeks he didn’t play well, but we challenged him this week and he led us.”

LeGrand, though, deflected the praise, especially to his receivers for his passing.

“We actually were thinking of running the ball more, but it just ended up that the passes were wide open,” LeGrand said. “The receivers got open and caught the ball. The credit goes to them. I just put it there for them to catch it, and they did the rest of the work.”

The Dothan onslaught began right from the opening kickoff. Adrian Kirkland took Northview’s kick at the 5 and shot through a hole to the 46.

LeGrand then directed an impressive 11-play scoring drive. The Tigers converted three third downs on the drive, the last at the 2 when LeGrand sneaked over for a touchdown. The extra point failed, but it was 6-0 Dothan.

On the ensuing kick, Northview’s Kenneth Miller fielded it at the 16 and slid through a hole for a good return, but he coughed the ball up at the end and Dothan’s Bryant Huff recovered the fumble at the 38.

LeGrand went to work, utilizing a pump-and-go pass and drilling Benard McGhee down the sideline to the 1-yard line. LeGrand then snuck over a play later. Ryan Mullins added the extra point, making it 13-0 with 6:03 to go in the quarter.

The Cougar offense finally got on the field but went three-and-out, and the Cougars punted to Dothan.

A nice return plus a 15-yard facemask penalty set the Tigers up at the 32. Three plays later, LeGrand hit Kirkland on a 14-yard touchdown pass. The try for two failed, leaving it 19-0.

Dothan padded its lead to 26-0 in the second quarter as LeGrand fired a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Knight with 6:50 to go before halftime.

The Tigers ended any second-half comeback hopes, scoring on their first three possessions. Knight scored on a 13-yard run, Devon Fields on a 35-yard run and
LeGrand completed a 17-yard scoring pass to Kamyrn Melton.

Northview ruined the shutout late in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard B.J. Chitty to Craig Shirley touchdown pass.

Dothan’s running game was balanced with Tyler McElroy leading the way with 61 yards. Knight had 57 and Fields 55.

Most of Northview’s offense came via Derrick Thomas, who had 59 yards rushing off 12 carries.